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Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Friday said that in Financial Year 2023, 5240 km of new railway tracks were laid down by the government and in just one year, the railway tracks laid in India are equal to the entire railway network of countries like Switzerland.
Addressing a press conference here today, Reddy emphasized that India has become the fastest-growing railway network system today. "Railways are the lifeline of India. To make railway travel accessible, the government has offered subsidies to passengers. Passengers pay only 53 per cent of the ticket cost. 47 per cent subsidy is offered to each passenger travelling in trains. Today India has become the fastest-growing railway network system. In FY 2023, 5240km of new railway tracks were laid down by the government. In just one year, the railway tracks laid in India are equal to the entire railway network of countries like Switzerland. From 2014-2023, 25434 km long new railway tracks have been laid in India," he said. He further said that the Railway budget has increased by eight times in 2023-24 as compared to the last budget of UPA tenure. "The last budget of UPA in 2013-14 was Rs 29,055 crore. The Government of India had given a budget of Rs 2.52 lakh crore to the Railways in 2023-24. The railway budget has increased by eight times in FY 2023-24 as compared to that in 2013-14," he said. Meanwhile, In a significant move aimed at enhancing transportation efficiency, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Modi, cleared the railway transportation projects across six states on Thursday. With a combined cost estimated at Rs 12,343 crore, these projects, fully funded by the Central Government, aim to streamline operations, reduce congestion and provide crucial infrastructural development on the busiest rail sections in the country. According to an official statement, the approved six projects span 18 districts across Rajasthan, Assam, Telangana, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Nagaland. They will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by 1020 kms and will employ about 3 crore man-days to the people of the states. Welcoming the Cabinet nod to six multi-tracking projects, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that they will enhance transportation efficiency and help reduce congestion on busy railway networks. "Today's Cabinet decision about the Railways sector will boost infrastructure, reduce congestion on busy routes and improve commerce as well as connectivity," Prime Minister Modi posted from his official X handle. (ANI)
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